What is Phillip’s background?
How does Phillip create his art?
How much time does it take to create a portrait?
What photos should I select for my portrait?
How do I send my photographs?
Will Phillip take new reference photos for my portrait?
What is the difference between a portrait in paper or board and one on canvas?
How may I order one of Phillip’s paintings?
Will Phillip donate to my non-profit’s fundraiser?
Currans Hill artist Phil Carrero started as an impressionable 16 year old drawing charcoal portraits through the streets of Buenos Aires. He worked his way up from drawing to painting and begun to sell his works around that time.
Coming to Australia in 1973 , at the age of 23, Mr Carrero continued his studies in Art and completed an apprenticeship for four months to get himself better acquainted with portraiture painting. Meanwhile, for almost ten years produced and sold scores of ship portraits and marine paintings.
-After that I begun getting around 12 commissions a year for just portraits. That’s the point when I begun to make a living out of painting-, he said.
He paints in the Traditional, Realistic style. English and Italian schools, his portraits can resemble the Grand Manner style of the 19th and 20th centuries in England and later, America.
(extracted from “Artist has brush with thieves”, Macarthur Advertiser, January 2004)
How does Phillip create his art?
Phillip combines his passion for classic portrait painting and his fine art training with an understanding of the client’s dreams and aspirations . He has developed his pioneering technique over 20 years as a portrait artist. His goal has always been to paint and draw each stroke traditionally from scratch using bright square soft brushes and only the three primaries, no mediums. For Phillip, his dedication to fine art portraiture means being a purist and using photos only for reference and inspiration. He delights in bringing out her subjects’ character and beauty in a completely original work of art. Using either oils, soft pastels, graphite or charcoal, Phillip paints stroke by stroke with the best brushes, the fines oils or pastels on his prepared board or “canvas.” He expresses himself in a traditional oil painting style, never manipulating the reference photographs, bridging the best of both worlds—traditional painting and experiencial realism.
How much time does it take to create a portrait?
One has to consider I don’t work full time painting, even though my business is 100% “Art” related.
I normally put three to five hours a day, five days a week painting when I do commissions.
Depending on complexity. If research is necessary, add to this:
- Drawings on board 24” x 32” normally take me one to two weeks.
- Soft Pastels same size, add one to two weeks longer. That is two to four weeks.
- Oil paintings, roughly six to twelve weeks including drying time.
Normally a commission includes reference studies in composition and color harmonies, They are additional studies to familiarize myself with the subject. I don’t mind including them at a small cost.
If Research is necessary: For instance it could involve National or State libraries, archives and even trips overseas to select the reference material personally.
Examples of research:
- One such work was necessary at the Australian Archives to paint the first ships of the Australian Navy.
- Another time my customer went to the US military base at the Philippines, plus did trips to the Smithsonian Museum to gather material for my series on General MacArthur.
- The painting on the Cutty Sark, of which I don’t have a picture of, involved research of the shipyards at Southport, England plus the British Maritime Museum.
So, it basically depends on what the customer wants, the material they can provide, the time available and what budget they allocate to the commission. It keeps costs down considerably if the customer does the research. Then Phillip would start his work when all material becomes available.
If your portrait is a surprise gift that you wish to present at a special occasion, please consult with Phillip to make special scheduling arrangements.
What photos should I select for my portrait?
Many paintings exhibited here show examples of Phillip’s progression in the piece, showing both the studies in charcoal and/or color and completed works. When selecting from your photos, you may choose either recent or old photos as reference sources for your painting, pastel or drawing. If the subjects for your commission are in different photos, Phillip can combine the different images and paint the subjects into one portrait. Phillip encourages you to send additional photos for him to use as reference on the subjects and surroundings.
Two important considerations are 1) the quality of the photographs and 2) how they touch you emotionally. Please contact Phillip, either in person or by phone or email, if you would like assistance selecting from your personal photos. If both come into one, as a high quality photo that touches your heart, it will certainly inspire a great painting, pastel or drawing!
In order for Phillip to see the most detail, digital photos should be high resolution, taken on the camera’s highest quality setting. The most common type of digital photo, JPEG, will work just fine if it is high resolution. However, if your camera is capable of creating RAW digital files, they provide even greater detail and are preferred. You are welcome to contact Phillip, prior to taking new photos, for his recommendations and tips. He also welcomes your photos taken by other photographers, but will need their release for any copyrighted images.
Phillip recommends sending digital photos via e-mail or he can provide you with a server link. Please contact Phillip for his recommendations when you are planning to mail or ship older photos taken with film cameras. These will be carefully scanned and any photos or media received will be returned to you.
Will Phillip take new reference photos for my portrait?
Should you need updated photos, you are welcome to schedule a complimentary photo session with Phillip at Currans Hill in Sydney, NSW. You will view the photos with Phillip immediately following the photo session and plan the design of your portrait together. Photo sessions at your location are available. Fees vary, depending on time and distance; please contact Phillip for more details.
What is the difference between a portrait painted on paper or board and one on canvas?
The difference depends on both the subject matter and mood of the portrait. Illustration or watercolour paper provides a softer image, and gives the painting or drawing a lovely, delicate feel. Phillip’s paintings and drawings on watercolor paper look best with (and deserve!) professional matting and museum glass. His paintings on canvas are bolder with more saturated color, have a semi gloss finish and require professional framing, but no glass. Phil’s paintings and drawings are fixative or damar varnish protected at his Fine Art studio in Currans Hill, NSW.
How may I order one of Phil’s landscape, seascape or sporting heroes paintings?
The paintings viewed on Phillip’s Artwork pages are inspired by Phil’s travels, friends and competitions and cherished by his collectors. They may be ordered framed or un-framed to fit your decor and surrounds. Please contact Phillip for pricing information.
Will Phillip donate to my non-profit’s fundraiser?
Phillip appreciates the efforts of so many wonderful non-profit organizations, and is pleased to assist in fundraising events. Please contact Phillip if you know of an organization planning an online silent auction. It gives him a great deal of satisfaction to be able to help others, all over the country, through his work.